DISCLAIMER: Sadly Buffy the vampire slayer belongs to Joss Whedon, The Walking Dead isn't mine either , and neither is Vampire Diaries, I am only borrowing them for the playground of my OC character-Valise Times.
SPOLIERS: Post-Chosen BTVS, Mid-season 3 TWD, and no specific time during the Vampire Diaries.
CHAPTER 8
Just as I had expected. Rick had not been so inviting to the returned visitors. Everyone stood inside the main room of our cell block, Andrea and her two companions the center of attention.
"Look, Tyrese, Sasha. I'm sure y'all are good people but I'm not putting any of my people at risk by having you hear." The two nodded their understanding. Tyrese stepped forth.
"We understand. If you would just give us some water we'll be on our way."
What the hell? Had Rick completely lost his mind.
"Wait a damn minute. Rick these two have been nothing but genuine. We could use their help around the prison and with the Governor out to get us it wouldn't hurt to have some extra people watching our backs."
Daryl stiffened next to me. The others of our group remained silent. But I could tell that they agreed with me. Even Carl gave me a small smile. Tyrese and Sasha looked hopeful. And Rick looked pissed.
"Valise I understand you want to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, but we can't take in every stray that comes our way."
"No Rick. These are good people. We have plenty of food rations to go around. Between the cafeteria findings and those I brought here there is no reason to turn them away!"
The room grew silent as the truth of what I said sunk in. It was Carl who stepped forward.
"Look dad, I want to keep Judith safe too. These people don't seem too bad. Give em a chance."
Rick seemed to deflate at that. He slowly walked over to stand infront of me. I felt both Dixons tense on either side of me, no doubt ready to interject if needed.
"Fine. They can stay. But if they put the others in danger or worse, that blood will be on your hands." I nodded. Choosing to remain quiet in the face of my small victory, I looked to Daryl when he gave my shoulder a small nudge. I wasn't quite sure what it meant but I chose to take it as his way of saying I did the right thing by standing up to Rick. I glanced at Sasha and Tyrese who both sent me a grateful smile.
With that piece of business out the way, the room turned back to Andrea and her original reason for being here. The Governor…She seemed to grow angry when it became clear that she was not as welcomed amongst these people as she used to be. I didn't blame them. What was wrong with her? Siding with the man who wanted her friends dead.
"Rick. There has a to be a way that we can make peace between the two sides."
"Peace? You call sending a truck load of walkers in to slaughter us and opening unprovoked fire on us peace?"
At his words the blonde had the sense to look sheepish.
"I didn't know about that plan. I'm sure it was a misunderstanding."
"Misunderstanding?! Axel is dead because of your boyfriend." We all looked at Carol. The slightly older woman usually remained quiet. Andrea scuffed.
"He was just an inmate."
This time Daryl spoke up. "Just an inmate? He was a human being. Hell there is very little that separates me from him. I reckoned my life ain't worth shit to yer' huh? What if that were me he had shot or Carol or Carl or Beth or hell even shortround? What does it matter? Your boyfriend killed one of our own, ain't no peace in that."
I looked at him as his back retreated into the cell area, seemingly done with the conversation. It was clear where he stood on the situation. I wondered if I should go talk to him, but Merle mumbled lowly next to me. 'Leave em be. Let em cool off.'
Against most of ours opinions, Rick told Andrea to set the meeting up so he could meet with the Governor and talk peace. I honestly wanted to slap him. He even gave her a gun and sent her on the way in one of our cars.
We had three days before Rick went off to meet with the man who had been terrorizing the prison group. The group seemed to collectively agree to disperse after our visitor departed. Tyrese, Sasha, Merle, and Michonne went back to the yard and finished getting rid of the last of the walkers. Beth was still watching Judith, Carl close by keeping a watchful eye on them bath. I wondered if Beth was aware that Carl seemed to have a crush on her. Probably not. But it was cute to see that even with all the chaos people still had affection for others. With Daryl still up on the landing cooling off, I decided to help Carol prepare dinner.
Usually we warmed our food over an open flame outside, but I coerced her into going with me to the cafeteria and using the actual kitchen. We didn't use it often because there was no way to close it off and prevent walkers from getting in.
Since I promised to keep watch while she cooked, Carol had decided on cooking up the deer Daryl caught on his hunt today along with greens and corn. It was time everyone got a proper meal.
"So Valise. You and Daryl huh?"
"What about us?"
She shrugged at me as she continued cooking.
"Just wondering. How serious are you two?"
I crossed my arms as I leaned against the wall farthest from her but closest to the entrance of the kitchen.
"We're just friends. I mean don't get me wrong, he is one sexy redneck. But I don't know. He just doesn't seem like the type to be in a relationship."
Carol snorted at that. "Honey, Daryl Dixon is a puzzle that you gotta figure out. He's not used to a lot of affection. And sure as hell is awkward when giving it."
"You got that right."
"If you like him, you gotta hang in there and give him a little push cause he doesn't waste energy on people he don't care about."
I smiled at the woman. She really was a sweetheart. I knew she had a thing for Daryl and part of me felt bad for even thinking of going there with him. But the heart wants what the heart wants.
"Dually noted."
"Good. Now, tell me about your friends. The ones you say are supposed to come find you," she said as she stirred the pot of green beans. Having decided to bake two cakes after finding the boxes of mix in the kitchen, she checked those as well before turning back to me. The kitchen smelt like home. The aromas of food in the air.
"Well. There is Sarah. She's like my best friend and big sister all in one. She taught me everything I know about using weapons."
Carol smiled "She must be an amazing woman."
I returned her smile as I thought of the blonde slayer. "She is. One of the most caring and selfless people I have ever met."
The older woman nodded, stirring the corn. "And your other friend, Jimmy was it?"
I couldn't help the laugh that came out of my mouth as I pictured Spike's reaction to someone calling him Spud. I wondered if I could get Carol to say it if she ever met him.
"James."
Carol looked at me with interest. "And what about him? This James guy."
"Sarah may have taught me how to use a weapon, but James. He taught me how to street fight and use my surroundings as a weapon. He's a pain in my ass but I know he would give his life to protect me and Sarah."
"So are him and Sarah together?" Together? That didn't even begin to describe their relationship. What they had ran deeper than that.
"Oh they're together alright. What they have is eternal. Not even walkers can break that up," I said.
"That's beautiful. I look forward to meeting them."
"Yeah, you just can't take anything James says to heart tho. He may be a hard ass on the outside, but he's really a good guy."
Carol began emptying the corn into a big serving bowl. "Sounds like someone we both know."
We looked at each other and laughed. I spun around dagger ready when the sound of footsteps echoed from behind me. My blade stopped an inch away from its intended target. Speak of the devil.
"Next time yer' pull a knife on me, you best use it princess."
"Jeez Daryl, I thought you were a walker."
"Not my fault, I called out to y'all but you were too busy in here yapping to here me." I looked to Carol at his comment. Had we really been that distracted?
"Anyways, I came to see if you two needed any help."
"Aw, thank you Daryl that's sweet of you. If you could watch out for walkers as we get this food back to the others that would great," Carol said giving him a soft smile. I held back a snicker as I noticed Daryl blush slightly under her praise. She was right. He really wasn't used to dealing with nice people.
"Yeah well quit your chattering and let's get a move on."
Putting away my dagger, I moved over to Carol and took the very large roaster full of tonight's dinner. Carol managed to carry both the side dishes while balancing the cakes. Woman was super girl in the kitchen. I watched as she moved out of the kitchen, jumping slightly at the sound of Daryl's voice.
"Come on princess, get the molasses out yer' ass."
Walking past Daryl and exiting the kitchen to follow Carol, I looked back at him.
"Get the molasses out my ass. What does that even mean?" Carol giggled at my words.
"Means, you're moving too slow for Daryl's liking," she answered.
"Damn right."
I couldn't help but let out a laugh of my own.
"You are an ugly son of a bitch," Daryl's voice reached my ears and I frowned. I turned to ask him what his problem was but stopped as he fired an arrow into the forehead of a lone walker that managed to sneak up on us. Carol and I looked wide eyed at him. Finally I broke the silence.
"Thanks."
He gave a grunt in response.
The rest of the way back to our cell block was made without incident.
